ABSTRACT
The present research concerns about the mapping of land and use types in the environmental
systems on the estuary zone of Timonha and Ubatuba Rivers, Ceará-Piauí, Brazil. Located at
the end of the low course of the hydrographic basin of Coreaú River, the area is inserted in
one of the most dynamic and vulnerable environments according to the environmental point
of view, the plain coast. The zone of hydrographic contact between the marine and continental
environment is called Estuary being the geomorphologic shape and the plain fluvial-marine
associated to the estuary. The ecosystem of these environments, the mangrove, it is
considered the most productive of the planet and the cradle of marine life. The mangrove is
very important and its inadequate management, overcoming its capacity of support threats the
resources offered by this area as well the possibility of a sustainable development. In this
context, the estuary zone of Timonha and Ubatuba Rivers, even being cosidered as one of the
most preserved by the point of view of the interference in its environmental systems, presents
considerable suppressions and grounds on the areas of mangrove. Therefore, this study
intends to understand the implications of the actual typologies of use in the environment
systems based on its capacity of producing. In order to the realization of the research, it was
used the Geosystemic method and the eco-dynamic of the landscapes adapted to the physic
and natural characteristics of the state Ceará by Souza. According to the main results of the
study it was deduced that the estuary zone is passing through these impacts which cause
changes on its environment and the degradation of its ecosystem. The inadequate management
of this area is one of the responsible for this situation.
Key words: Environmental system. Use of the land. Plain fluvial-marine. Timonha-Ubatuba.
